ChiNext Index opens lower - April 18

BEIJING - The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, opened 0.56 percent lower at 862.70 points on Thursday.

The index, together with the Shenzhen Component Index and the Shenzhen SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) Board Index, makes up the three core indices reflecting the performance of China's stocks listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

The ChiNext Board, which started trading on Oct 30, 2009, mainly lists high-tech companies and those with high growth potential.